"This won't do--they will climb the ladder in a moment. The wishing bottle: maybe I can blind them with the dye." Holding on tight with one hand, he fished the bottle out of his pocket. "If I only had something to turn them into white cats," he said, staring at the bottle, "maybe they would become harmless." And just at that minute a thought struck him so hard that it almost knocked loose his hold on the ladder. "This is black dye," said he; "perhaps if I reverse the label, it will become white dye. I'll try it anyway." And quick as thought he had loosened the label and turned it upside down. Certain it is that the contents of the bottle changed to a snow-white on the instant. Out came the cork. "Blub--blub--gog--gurgle, splash," and the cats were drenched with the liquid. "Pouf," and where Billy had seen thirteen black cats appeared thirteen snow-white ones. The cats looked at one another in astonishment for a moment, and then forgetting all about Billy, began to flog one another with their nine tails. "White ca-a-a-a-at--meow--flog him out of town," and off they went flogging each other mercilessly, each one thinking that he was the only black cat in the whole town and determined to beat the strangers out of Superstitionburg. "There's some good in hair dye after all," laughed Billy, and dropping to the ground, he stepped from under the ladder, leaped into the air, and bade farewell to Superstitionburg for ever and ever. CHAPTER VIII. GAMMON AND SPINACH. Billy didn't know how long he had been sleeping when he was awakened by a loud galloping. "Who in the world can be riding through the forest so fast and furiously at this time of the night?" he exclaimed to himself. "I hope it's no one after me. I want to go to sleep." "Thunder--col-lop--col-lop--col-lop," came the hoof beats nearer and nearer, "clop--clop, clop--clap--clap," and the gallop had changed into a trot. Nearer and yet nearer came the sound. "It's coming here sure enough. I must get up and meet him, whoever he is," but when Billy tried to move he found himself bound hand and foot. "Well, this is a fine how-de-do," he said, after vain attempts to release himself. "How-de-do," said a little voice in his ear. "Who are you?" asked Billy, in surprise. "I'd really like to tell you, but if I did, you'd know, you know." So saying, a little figure jumped up on Billy's chest and sat there with his face all screwed up as if he were making fun. "Who are you laughing at?" asked Billy. "Oh! what a good spring board you make," said the little man, jumping up and down on Billy's chest. And the rubber suit did make a fine jumping place for him. "I asked you a question," said Billy, indignantly. "That's not my fault." "Aren't you going to answer me?" "Give it up; try me with another," said the little man. "Another what?" asked Billy. "Another question of course, and if I can't answer that you owe me two forfeits--by the way how many does that make?" "What?"